A free crochet pattern for a Crochet Cancer Beanie, featuring the iconic cancer ribbon design and available in three versatile sizes!

Join the 2025 Crochet Cancer Challenge hosted by Sweet Potato 3 with this inspiring free crochet pattern for a cancer ribbon hat. This cancer ribbon crochet beanie pattern serves as a meaningful cancer awareness hat or chemo hat pattern, featuring front post double crochet color work to create the iconic awareness ribbon design. Available in three sizes—toddler, child, and adult—this crochet hat for cancer patients or supporters is ideal for personal use, gifts, or charity donations. With easy-to-follow written instructions and awareness ribbon crochet hat graphs, you can whip up hats for cancer awareness that combine style, comfort, and compassion. Let’s crochet some support today!

This is also the fourth hat in my Front Post Double Crochet color work hat series after my Peek-a-Boo Bunny, Hearts in a Row Hat and the Counting Sheep Hat. I have several more ideas for additional hat designs using this same color work technique and I would love to hear your ideas on which ones should be next!

How to Make the Crochet Cancer Beanie

For the full written pattern instructions for the Cancer Ribbon Hat, scroll down below. You can purchase the ad-free PDF of this Cancer Ribbon Hat for a small fee. Or, become a Lifetime Member and never pay for a PDF again!

1. The main body of this cancer crochet hat is made from the bottom-up using the FPdc color work technique. This easy color work crochet technique is made with all double and front post dc stitches throughout.

2. I have a complete tutorial to help walk you through this technique including how to read graphs!

3. Once the main body of the hat is complete you will add the ribbing to the bottom of the hat. If you need some help with this you can check out my photo tutorial for the Remember Me Beanie. 

4. I have provided three sizes using a medium worsted weight yarn but you could make additional adjustments by changing up yarn weight and hook size.

5. Add an optional yarn pom pom to complete your cancer ribbon crochet hat!

Supplies for the Cancer Ribbon Hat Pattern

*This post contains affiliate links.  You can click on any yarn or material highlighted to purchase.  I will receive a small commission if you purchase but it won’t cost you any extra!  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My crochet cancer hat uses Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn which is a medium worsted weight acrylic yarn.  Very economical and with plentiful color options! You can certainly substitute your favorite worsted weight yarn – Red Heart With Love, Red Heart Super Saver, Paintbox Simply Aran, Vanna’s Choice, Big Twist Value, Caron Simply Soft, Caron One Pound and so many more!  

I made my own yarn pom poms and used the same color yarn as the ribbon. And I find using the Clover Pom Pom Maker* saves a lot of time!

2025 Crochet Cancer Challenge

The Crochet Cancer Ribbon Hat is part of the 2025 Crochet Cancer Challenge Hosted by Sweet Potato 3. This is my sixth year submitting a design for this challenge and it is very dear to my heart. You can find my other designs for previous years on the blog – the Marci Hat Tunisian Hat, Nina Bean Beanie, Remember Me Puff Stitch Beanie, Tunisian Swirl Hat and the Cherish Hat.

In 2021 our beautiful, sweet granddaughter Nina was diagnosed with brain cancer. She was only with us for 6 months after her diagnosis and passed away at the age of 7 in December of that same year. I cannot believe it has already been 4 years since that time. We miss her so much and always will. This time of the year is particularly difficult as we were trying to soak up every minute of the time we had with her, not knowing how long that time might be. She was such a precious and beautiful soul. She never complained and was always so cheerful. I am so grateful we had her in our lives even for such a short time. Cancer touches so many of our lives and my prayers go out to all of those suffering as well as those they love!

My design for this year’s challenge offers the opportunity to express your support for anyone suffering through any type of cancer. You can change up the color of your ribbon as you need to. Here is a chart showing the ribbon colors for the most common cancers.

If you are new to the Crochet Cancer Challenge, it runs the entire month of October. Every day a new crochet hat pattern is featured. Using a code, you can get the hat pattern for free. By getting a free copy of the hat pattern, you agree to make at least one hat and donate or gift it to a cancer patient, center, or hospital.

Purchase the ad-free PDF of the Cancer Ribbon Hat

This pattern is also available as an ad-free, printable PDF! You can purchase the Cancer Ribbon Hat pattern, or if you love PDFs, you might want to check out my Lifetime Membership. It’s an awesome deal! Never pay for one of my PDFs again!! (Or, scroll down for the free version!)

Bonus: The ad-free PDF includes row by row color block graph!

I have put together a bundle of my previous Crochet Cancer Challenge hat patterns all in one place for 1 low price!

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You may like the following free crochet patterns by Nana’s Crafty Home:

1. Hearts in a Row Head Band free crochet pattern
2. Peek a Boo Bunny Hat free crochet pattern
3. Counting Sheep Hat free crochet pattern

Cancer Ribbon Hat free crochet pattern

Pattern written in US crochet terminology

Supplies:

I Love This Yarn!, Weight 4 Medium (100% acrylic)    

• Color White 2.6 oz / 136 yards (MC)
• Color Tropical Pink 0.8 oz / 42 yards (P)

Crochet hook size I (5.5 mm)
Pom Pom (optional)
Scissors
Tapestry Needle

Approximate finished size: 

• Toddler: Approximately 16” circumference x 7” height
• Child: Approximately 17” circumference x 8” height
• Adult: Approximately 21” circumference x 9” height

Gauge: 13 FPdc sts x 10 rows = 4” x 4”    

Abbreviations:

• MC = main color
• P = pink
• RS = right side
• ch(s) = chain(s)
• dc = double crochet
• sl st = slip stitch
• yo = yarn over
• FPdc = front post double crochet (see special stitches section below)
• sc = single crochet
• BLO = back loop only
• FPdc2tog = front post 2 double crochet stitches together (see special stitches section below)
• Rnd(s) = round(s)

Special Stitches:

FPdc (front post double crochet stitch): Yo and insert your hook from front to back to front around the dc stitch post from the row below, yo, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, pull through remaining 2 loops.

FPdc2tog: Yo, insert hook from front to back to front around the dc stitch post from the row below, yo, pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yo, pull through two loops (two loops on hook), yo, insert hook from front to back to front around the next dc stitch post from the row below, yo, pull up a loop (four loops on hook), yo, pull through two loops (three loops on hook), yo, pull through remaining three loops on hook.

Pattern Notes:

• Three different graphs are provided – toddler size, child size, adult size. Variations of size can be achieved by simply changing up hook size.
• Hat is worked from bottom up, adding ribbing to bottom edge of hat at the end.
• Graph is worked as FPdc around the stitch in the round directly below, with the exception of the first round which is a round of double crochet.
• Each pixel of the graph corresponds to 1 FPdc (rounds 2 – 10) or dc (round 1) stitch.
• Main body of the hat is worked in the round without turning. Slip stitch join at the end of each round into the top of the first FPdc, not the beginning ch-2.
• Graph rounds represent rounds that are NOT decreasing rounds. Refer to written round instructions for decreasing stitch details.
• To work color changes, work last dc stitch before new color until there are two loops on the hook, pull in new color with last yo. 
• To reduce ends to weave in, I carried the non-working yarn as yarn “floats” on the wrong side of the hat.
• Ch-2 at beginning of each round does not count as a stitch.

Recommended Tutorial:

How to change colors and read graph for FPdc

Pattern Instructions

Toddler Hat Instructions

Toddler Color Graph 

With MC, ch 55, without twisting ch, sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Rnd 1: (Begin color changes see below) (RS) Ch 2 (does not count as st), dc in same st and in each ch to end, sl st in top of first dc st. (55)

    Rnd 1 color changes: MC2, [P1, MC5, P1, MC4] 4 times, P1, MC5, P1, MC2.

Rnd 2: Ch 2, FPdc in st below ch-2 (first dc st), FPdc in each st around, sl st in first st.

    Rnd 2 color changes: MC2, [P2, MC3, P2, MC4] 4 times, P2, MC3, P2, MC2.

Rnds 3-7: Repeat as for Round 2 with the following color changes:

Rnd 3: MC3, [P2, MC1, P2, MC6] 4 times, P2, MC1, P2, MC3.

Rnd 4: MC4, [P3, MC8] 4 times, P3, MC4.  

Rnd 5: MC3, [P2, MC1, P2, MC6] 4 times, P2, MC1, P2, MC3.

Rnd 6: MC3, [P1, MC3, P1, MC6] 4 times, P1, MC3, P1, MC3.

Rnd 7: Repeat round 6.

Rnd 8: MC4, [P3, MC8] 4 times, P3, MC4.

Fasten off P.

Rnd 9: With MC, ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 9 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (50)

Rnd 10: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 3 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (40)

Rnd 11: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 2 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (30)

Rnd 12: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next st,* repeat from * to * to end. (20)

Rnd 13: Ch 2, FPdc2tog around. (10)

Rnd 14: Ch 2, FPdc2tog around. (5)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing hat closed.  Weave in remaining ends.

Continue to Bottom Edge & Ribbing Instructions to complete hat.

Child Hat Instructions

Child Color Graph 

With MC, ch 60, without twisting ch, sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Rnd 1: (Begin color changes see below) (RS) Ch 2 (does not count as st), dc in same st and in each ch to end, sl st in top of first dc st. (60)

    Rnd 1 color changes: MC2, [P1, MC5, P1, MC3] 4 times, P1, MC5, P1, MC1.

Rnd 2: Ch 2, FPdc in st below ch-2 (first dc st), FPdc in each st around, sl st in first st.

    Rnd 2 color changes: MC2, [P2, MC3, P2, MC3] 4 times, P2, MC3, P2, MC1.

Rnds 3-7: Repeat as for Round 2 with the following color changes:

Rnd 3: MC3, [P2, MC1, P2, MC5] 4 times, P2, MC1, P2, MC2.

Rnd 4: MC4, [P3, MC7] 4 times, P3, MC3.

Rnd 5: MC3, [P2, MC1, P2, MC5] 4 times, P2, MC1, P2, MC2.

Rnd 6: MC3, [P1, MC3, P1, MC5] 4 times, P1, MC3, P1, MC2.

Rnd 7: Repeat round 6.

Rnd 8: MC4, [P3, MC7] 4 times, P3, MC3.

Fasten off P.

Rnd 9: With MC, ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 8 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (54)

Rnd 10: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 7 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (48)

Rnd 11: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 6 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (42)

Rnd 12: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 5 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (36)

Rnd 13: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 4 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (30)

Rnd 14: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 3 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (24)

Rnd 15: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 2 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (18)

Rnd 16: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next st,* repeat from * to * to end. (12)

Rnd 17: Ch 2, FPdc2tog around. (6)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing hat shut. Weave in remaining ends.

Continue to Bottom Edge & Ribbing Instructions to complete hat.

Adult Hat Instructions

 Adult Color Graph

With MC, ch 70, without twisting ch, sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Rnd 1: (RS) Ch 2 (does not count as st), dc in same st and in each ch to end, sl st in top of first dc st. (70)

Rnd 2: (Begin color changes see below) Ch 2, FPdc in st below ch-2 (first dc st), FPdc in each st around, sl st in first st.

    Rnd 2 color changes: MC2, [P1, MC5, P1, MC3] 6 times, P1, MC5, P1, MC1.

Rnds 3-8: Repeat as for Round 2 with the following color changes:

Rnd 3: MC2, [P2, MC3, P2, MC3] 6 times, P2, MC3, P2, MC1.

Rnd 4: MC3, [P2, MC1, P2, MC5] 6 times, P2, MC1, P2, MC2.

Rnd 5: MC4, [P3, MC7] 6 times, P3, MC3. 

Rnd 6: MC3, [P2, MC1, P2, MC5] 6 times, P2, MC1, P2, MC2.

Rnd 7: MC3, [P1, MC3, P1, MC5] 6 times, P1, MC3, P1, MC2. 

Rnd 8: Repeat round 7.

Rnd 9: MC4, [P3, MC7] 6 times, P3, MC3.

Fasten off P.

Rnd 10: With MC, repeat round 2.

Rnd 11: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 8 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (63)

Rnd 12: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 7 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (56)

Rnd 13: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 6 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (49)

Rnd 14: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 5 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (42)

Rnd 15: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 4 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (35)

Rnd 16: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 3 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (28)

Rnd 17: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next 2 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (21)

Rnd 18: Ch 2, *FPdc2tog, FPdc next st,* repeat from * to * to end. (14)

Rnd 19: Ch 2, FPdc2tog around. (7)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing top of hat shut.  Weave in remaining ends.

All Sizes: Written as Toddler (Child, Adult)

Bottom Edge

Attach MC to bottom edge of hat in any unused loop from foundation ch with sl st.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each unused loop around, sl st to first st. 55 (60, 70) Do not fasten off.

Ribbing

Ch 6 (7, 9).

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch to end, now working in sc sts from previous round of bottom edge, sl st in next two sts. Turn. 5 (6, 8)

Row 2: Skip 2 sl sts, working in BLO of sc sts from previous row of ribbing, sc in BLO of each st to end. Turn. 5 (6, 8)

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st to end, sl st in next two sts of main body of hat. Turn. 5 (6, 8)

Rows 4 – 55 (60, 70): Repeat rows 2 – 3. 

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing ribbing edges of hat together.

With mattress seam stitch, sew ribbing edges together.

With long length of yarn left for sewing, sew top of hat shut.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Add pom pom, if desired.

Copyright 2025 Tonya Bush / Nana’s Crafty Home, LLC.

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